Pascal Siakam published a piece in The Players’ Tribune following his trade from the Toronto Raptors to the Indiana Pacers.
Siakam wrote that he never requested a trade from the Raptors and wanted to spend his entire career in Toronto.
“Toronto is just all I’ve known — and all I’ve wanted to know,” Siakam wrote. “I never asked for a trade. Maybe this sounds naive, but I felt I could be one of those dudes who spends his whole career on one team. That was my mentality even with the rumors. Like: I helped the Raptors win their first NBA title. So eventually I’ll help them win their second. I always took that as a given, you know? I took a lot of pride in being that guy who’s connecting the past and the future here, and keeping it all as one era. But I also realize it’s a business … and it’s their right to decide when it’s time for an era to end.”
The Raptors traded Siakam to the Pacers for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks. Siakam, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, is widely expected to re-sign with Indiana once free agency starts.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers Updates
Siakam is one of the top players in Raptors history. He finished his Toronto career with averages of 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in 510 games. The forward helped the Raptors win the 2019 championship over the Golden State Warriors in six games.
“But now I’m realizing the sad part…. that it’s about to be my journey in reverse: probably a few less RAPTORS 43’s in the crowd at the next home game, then a few less at the game after that, then a few less, a few less, a few less,” Siakam wrote. “And that’s OK. That’s how it goes. I’ll tell you what though: When I’m back next month as an opponent, and it’s the national anthems, and I’m standing there looking around? I do hope maybe I spot one. And I’ll still give it a YESSSS!!! on the inside. It’ll still mean a lot to me. Because it’s still a Toronto thing. And I’m Toronto forever.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers Updates
Siakam is fifth in Raptors history in games, fifth in minutes, fifth in field goals, eighth in 3-point field goals, fifth in free throws, sixth in offensive rebounds, third in defensive rebounds, third in total rebounds, fifth in assists, 10th in steals, ninth in blocks, fifth in points, second in triple-doubles, sixth in points per game and ninth in player efficiency rating.
Siakam is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 52.2% from the floor, 31.7% from beyond the arc and 75.8% from the free-throw line. He’s making $37.9 million.
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